Device for spinning tops and the like



J. W. WHITELEY AND W.' T. MOULD.

DEVICE FOR SPINNING TOPS AND THE LIKE PatenImd Nov. 21, 1922.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22 192].

Patented Nov. 2i, 19922..

hurrah srarias JAMES WILLIAM VVHITELEY, OF FAIRFIELD, LI'VEIRPGOL, ANDWILLIAM TI-IUI-FA. MOULID, OF VJAVERTBEE, LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND,ASSIGNURSTQ WHITELEY, JEANS- LEY AND COMPANY LIMITED, OF LIVERPOOL,EIQTGLAND;

DEVICE FOR SPINNING AND THE LIKE.

Application filed January 22, 1921.

To all 20 Ito m it may concern Be it known that we, JAMES lViLLiAMVVHITELEY, a subject of the King of England, residing at Beech Street,Fairfield, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, and WILLIAMTHOMAS Moonn, a subject of the King of England, residing at 142 AldersonRoad, l vavertree, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Devicesfor Spinning Tops and the like, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to toys, but more particularly spinning tops, andhas for its object to provide a new or improved device or appliance, ormeans, whereby rotary or spinning motion may be imparted thereto.

According to our invention, and in one arrangement There is provided acasing wherein are formed suitably located, and (if of cylindrical form)preferably diametrally opposed, openings or apertures; extending longitudinally of said casing is a revolubly positioned rod or spindle whichis-or the outer portions whereof areof tubular construction, and in eachend whereof is formed an open lateral slot adapted to receive a lateralpin or like projection provided on a vertical post of the toy, said postbeing adapted to enter a tubular outer portion of said revoluble rod orspindle in order that its detachable engagement with said rod or spindlemay be effected: two pieces of twine, or the like, are secured to saidrevoluble rod or spindle, one piece, on an end being secured to said rodor spindle, passing through one of said openings, or apertures, of thecasing, and the other piece, on an end being secured to said rod orspindle, being passed through the other opening or aperture of the casinWe will further describe our invention with the aid of the accompanyingsheet of explanatory drawings, which illustrate, by way of examplesonly, three modes of embodying same.

In said drawings I Fig. 1 represents in longitudinal section a spinningappliance and the upper portion of a spinning top. Fig. 2 is a planview. illustrates the complete top drawn on a reduced scale as comparedwith Figs. 1 and 2.

Serial F o. 439,272

a, 5, Z), represent a sheet metal casing, comprising a cylindricalportion a and end closure or cap members F), b, which are locked tocylinder at by means of tongues (4 created in the stamping or blankingout of said cylinder a; said tongues a are passed through slots 6 in thecaps and then turned downwards. In said cylinder a, there are formed twopairs, 0, c and (5 (Z of diametrally opposed openings or apertures.

Extending longitudinally through said casing is a rod or spindle econstructed of sheet metal bent into tubular formation; the end portionsof said rod or spindle a project through central apertures 6 Z2 providedin the end cap closures b, and the spindle e is revolubly housed orpositioned in the easing by means or annular enlargements or shoulders e6 created thereon.

In each projecting or protruding end of said tubular rod or spindle 6there is formed an open lateral slot or recess 7 which is-forconvenience in manufacture-created by cutting the spindle end into theform oi. a single helical screw thread, as shown.

9, h, respectively, denote pieces or twine which are secured to saidrevoluble spindle a, one piece 9 after an end has been secured to saidspindle 6 being passed through the aperture 0 of the casing and theother piece 72, after an end has been secured to the spindle e and aportion wound around same, passing through the aperture (Z of thecasing. z, 5 denote finger rings to which the outer ends of the twineare secured.

ll, therefore, the casing be held stationary and twine it be pulled saidspindle 6 will. be revolved in the unwinding operation, the other pieceof twine 9 being automatically and simultaneously wound round thespindle; consequently said spindle 6 may at all times be revolved by thesimple action of pulling the free end of the twine which is then woundthereon.

7' denotes a post which extends through the centre of the top is towhich post a lateral pin Z is secured.

In use, said pin Z of post 7' is engaged in a slot 7 of one of thespindle ends (the tubular construction of such spindle permitting theinsertion of the upper part of the post j to effect such pin engagement)andthe casing being held in one hand of the user the free end of the(then) wound twine it is pulled by the other hand to cause spindle e andwith it, the top 70 to rotate; the lateral pin Z of post 9' thendisengages itself from the spindle slot f and the top 76 falls on to atable, floor, or other surface, where it continues to spin for a time.

In spinning the top, the casing is so held that the, then, wound twineis lowermost, that is nearest to that end of the spindle 6 with whichthe top is engaged.

The object in forming said casing apertures 0, c and d, d in pairs is tofacilitate the securing of the pieces of twine to the revoluble spindle0.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Lettel-s Patent is 2- A device for spinning a top comprising acasing having a cylindrical portion, centrally apertured cap memberssecured at opposite ends of the cylindrical portion, a tubular spindlerevolubly mounted in said cap members and having annular shouldersarranged to lie between said cap members and to engage therewith tolimit axial movement of said spindle, said spindle having at each endthereof an open lateral slot adapted to receive a projection upon thepost of a top, said casing having two pairs of diametrally opposedapertures, and two pieces of twine or like flexible elements, one beingpassed through one aperture of one pair of apertures, and the otherbeing passed through one aperture of the other pair of apertures, andeach being secured to the spindle.

In testimony whereof we aliix our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES WILLIAM WHITELEY. WILLIAM THOMAS MOULD.

Witnesses EMILY BUnRn'r'r, FANNY SNODDON.

